Brett Thomas Cooper

Brett Thomas Cooper May 23, 1977 December 23,2011 Brett Thomas Cooper, 34, of South Portland, passed away on Friday, December 23, 2011 at Maine Medical Center with his family by his side following a tenacious battle with ALS. Brett was born on May 23, 1977 in Newton, Massachusetts to Carlene Cooper and the late Dr Thomas L. Cooper. He grew up in Maine, attending Cape Elizabeth schools and Waynflete before graduating from Kents Hill School in 1997. After attending colleges in Colorado and Vermont, Brett graduated from the Maine Medical Center School of Surgical Technology in 2003. He was employed by Memorial Hospital in North Conway, New Hampshire and Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. He was also a Wilderness EMT and a registered Maine Guide. Brett loved life and actively sought all it had to offer. He filled his days with meaningful work, wonderful friends and leisure activities which challenged him both mentally and physically. He was an avid outdoorsman and passionately pursued rock climbing, extreme skiing, white water guiding, kayaking, surfing, mountain biking and fly fishing. He hiked the Appalachian Trail as well as many other mountainous terrains throughout the United States and Europe. At home, he enjoyed cooking, photography, listening to music and strumming on his acoustic guitar. His personality exuded warmth, genuineness, optimism, humor and fun. People were drawn to his infectious smile. He embodied a kind, gentle spirit. Brett packed a lot into his short life and leaves behind an indelible imprint on the hearts of his family and friends. He taught us that now can be forever. Brett is predeceased by his father, Dr Thomas L. Cooper; grandparents Dr Llewellyn and Pauline Cooper; grandfather Clifford R. Howe and cousin Lorin Cooper. He is survived by his mother, Carlene H. Cooper of Cape Elizabeth; sister Brooke Cooper of Portland; niece Olivia Cooper of Portland; grandmother Thelma Howe of Yarmouth; aunt Suzanne Farnham and husband David of Reston, Virginia and cousin Meredith Farnham of Williamsburg, Virginia. Also surviving him are Robert, Alice and Christian Cooper of Bar Harbor; James and Marva Cooper of Georgia; and Clifford, Joanne, Ben, Brent and Kaitlyn Sawyer of Yarmouth. Brett will be deeply missed by his dog, Baxter. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the friends, family and caregivers who made Brett's life accommodations and transitions as comfortable as possible, with special thanks to Dr. Paul Muskat and Beacon Hospice. Brett was very grateful for your support. We would also like to extend a special note of gratitude to Heather Richardson for her dedication to Brett. At Brett's request, a joyful celebration of his life will be held outside when the sun shines warmly again in the spring. It will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are by Independent Death Care of Maine, Portland. To offer words of condolence and share memories with the family, please go to the obituaries page at www.independentdeathcare.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brett's memory may be made to: Beacon Hospice, 54 Atlantic Place, South Portland, ME 04106 or the Animal Refuge League, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098.

Brett Thomas Cooper

May 23, 1977 - December 23, 2011

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